Turkish Painting
The Art Of Marbling
Turkish Women Artists
History Of The Academy Of Fine Arts
The formation of Turkish painting in western sense starting from mid 19th
century till the beginning of the
20th century can be said to be very active.
The very first painting lessons were scheduled at "Muhendishane-i Berri-i
Humayun/Military School of Engineering"s were 1793 mostly for technical
purposes.Artists who formed the 19th century art milieu were from military
and civilian schools.
Some have been educated abroad, others in the country. A Christian minority
and "Levanten" artists as well as foreign painters who influenced the art
milieu lived and contributed to arts in Istanbul. Some Turkish artists
like Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910) and Seker/Sugar Ahmet Pasha(1841-1907),
Suleyman Seyyid (1842-1913), Halil Pasha (1860-1939) of military background
had been educated in arts abroad. Meanwhile Huseyin Zekai Pasha (1860-1919),
Hoca/Hodja Ali Riza (1864-1939), Ahmet Ziya Akbulut (1869-1938) were among
the other famous artists who had been educated in the country.
Seker Ahmet had his first exhibition in 1873 and his second one in 1875.
Sanayi-i Nefise Mekteb-i/School of Fine Arts was opened with Osman Hamdi's
attempts in 1883.
A new era was beginning in painting with the return of the artists from
the West. Human figure in the western sense was being established in Turkish
painting especially with Osman Hamdi Bey. Impressionism, among the contemporary
trends, appeared later on with Halil Pasha.
The Ottoman Painter's Society was formed in 1909. The society started exhibitions
in 1916 continuing till 1952 on a regular basis that would be remembered
as "Galatasaray Exhibitions".
Contemporary trends that emphasize figure start to appear gradually in
Turkey with the "1914 Generation". Figure, composition and nudity entered
the Turkish painting for the first time in the western sense with this
generation.
Inas Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi/School of Fine Arts for Girls was opened for
young ladies in 1914. Mihri Musfik Hanim, Omer Adil, Feyhaman Duran were
the first instructors.
A studio was built with army support in Sisli with Arseven's attempt in
1917. Lifij's "Progress" and "War Allegory", Calli's "Cannon Carrier",
Mehmet Ruhi's "Stone Breakers" were the first examples of multi figured
and large dimensional compositions realised prior to and following this
period. Right after the Sisli Studio, the Vienna Exhibition was held in
1918, the first exhibition abroad.
Young artists sent to Europe in 1926 came back inspired by contemporary
trends such as Fauvism, Cubism and even Expressionism still very influencial
in Europe, and they took a stand against the "1914 Generation" members.
The important goals of this new group were, though not very absolute, pictorial
design structure and linear foundation rather than impressionist colorism.The
activities of the group under the name of Independent Painters and Sculptors'
Association, expanded with the participation of new artists in 1929. The
association's founders were painters R.Fazil (Epikman) (1902-1974), Cevat
Hamit (Dereli) (1900-1989), Seref Kamil (Akdik) (1862-1941), Mahmut Fehmi
(Cuda) (1904-1987), Nurullah Cemal (Berk) (1906-1981), Hale Asaf (1905-1938),
Ali Avni (Celebi) (1904-1993), Ahmet Zeki (Kocamemi) (1900-1959), Muhittin
Sebati (1901-1935); sculptor Ratip Asir (Acudoglu) (1898-1957) and decorator
Fahrettin Arkunlar (1901-1971). The question of how the new styles that
Celebi and Kocamemi formed would fit into the realities of the country
had been answered by Turgut Zaim (1904-1974). Zaim had given an original
meaning to the structure of figure. The style the artist developed opposing
to the new and comprehensive content which artists brought, had become
a choice western trends.
While the Mustakiller/Independents opened the doors of contemporary trends
in Turkey, we see a newly founding group which would give a greater support
to these efforts and of which their effectiveness lasted until the 1950's:Group
D. These artists introduced some trends that had lasted in the West for
thirty, forty years. Group members were Zeki Faik Izer (1905-1988), Nurullah
Berk (1906-1981), Elif Naci (1898-1988), Cemal Tollu (1899-1968), Abidin
Dino (1913-1993) and sculptor Zuhtu Muridoglu (1906-1992). The most significant
distinction of Group D from the Independents was perhaps that they had
gathered around a certain aesthetics with solidarity in determination to
defend the new trends they wanted to bring in. Group D had not been representative
of any particular view. They were open to anything new except Impressionism.
The star of the Calli generation faded away gradually after the Independents
and Group D members had started to work at the Academy.Artists like Bedri
Rahmi Eyuboglu (1911-1975), Eren Eyuboglu (1913-1988), Halil Dikmen (1906-1964),
Esref Uren (1897-1984), Sabri Berkel (1907-1993), Hakki Anli (1906-1990),
Arif Kaptan (1906-1979), Salih Uralli (1908-1984) had later on joined Group
D.
Besides all this progress, from the beginning there had also been independent
artists. Among these Ilhan Demirci, Sefik Bursali, Leyla Gamsiz, Semsi
Arel, Maide Arel, Abidin Elderoglu, Hamit Gorele, Ziya Keseroglu, Seyfi
Toray can be counted. Cemal Bingol, Nejat Devrim, Eren Eyuboglu and Fureyya
Kilic were among those who worked figuratively. Later on Adnan Coker, Lutfu
Gunay, Selim Turan (1915-1994), Fahrunissa Zeid (1901-1991) and Adnan Turani
took place in this trend.
When we look at the formation that starts in the 1940's and materialized
in the 1950's in Turkish painting, rather than particular group's or trend's
individual styles come forward while the existence of some groups could
still be observed.
It can be said that during the 1940's the notion that first came forward
was originality, regionalism and nationalism.
Those who had a social realist understanding like Nuri Iyem, Turgut Atalay,
Avni Arbas, Selim Turan, Ferruh Basaga, Kemal Sonmezler, Mumtaz Yener,
Agop Arad, Hasmet Akal formed the Yeniler Grubu/New Group in the late 1930's.
After they had opened the "Harbour Paintings Exhibition" had been remembered
as the Harbour Painters.
"Group Ten" which was formed in 1947 by the students of Bedri Rahmi like
Mustafa Esirkus, Nedim Gunsur, Turan Erol, Fikret Otyam, Orhan Peker, Mehmet
Pesen, Adnan Varinca started working basically by adding folkloric ornaments
in their works and added a freshness to the art milieu.
We see the "Yeni Dal Grubu/New Branch Group" including artists like Ibrahim
Balaban, Avni Mehmetoglu, Ihsan and Kemal Incesu focusing on social reality
at 1959.
We see Siyah Kalem Grubu/Black Pen Group formed by artists such as Cemal
Bingol, Ismail Altinok, Selma Arel, Lutfu Gunay, Ihsan Cemal Karaburcak,
Asuman Kilic, Ayse Silay and Solmaz Tugac at 1961. The artists had no common
goal; what joined them together had been Cemal Bingol's studio.
From the 1960's on the Turkish painting which gained great mobility with
many artists with different styles is advancing towards a promising future.
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Turkish Painting
The Art Of Marbling
Turkish Women Artists
History Of The Academy Of Fine Arts
The formation of Turkish painting in western sense starting from mid 19th
century till the beginning of the
20th century can be said to be very active.
The very first painting lessons were scheduled at "Muhendishane-i Berri-i
Humayun/Military School of Engineering"s were 1793 mostly for technical
purposes.Artists who formed the 19th century art milieu were from military
and civilian schools.
Some have been educated abroad, others in the country. A Christian minority
and "Levanten" artists as well as foreign painters who influenced the art
milieu lived and contributed to arts in Istanbul. Some Turkish artists
like Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910) and Seker/Sugar Ahmet Pasha(1841-1907),
Suleyman Seyyid (1842-1913), Halil Pasha (1860-1939) of military background
had been educated in arts abroad. Meanwhile Huseyin Zekai Pasha (1860-1919),
Hoca/Hodja Ali Riza (1864-1939), Ahmet Ziya Akbulut (1869-1938) were among
the other famous artists who had been educated in the country.
Seker Ahmet had his first exhibition in 1873 and his second one in 1875.
Sanayi-i Nefise Mekteb-i/School of Fine Arts was opened with Osman Hamdi's
attempts in 1883.
A new era was beginning in painting with the return of the artists from
the West. Human figure in the western sense was being established in Turkish
painting especially with Osman Hamdi Bey. Impressionism, among the contemporary
trends, appeared later on with Halil Pasha.
The Ottoman Painter's Society was formed in 1909. The society started exhibitions
in 1916 continuing till 1952 on a regular basis that would be remembered
as "Galatasaray Exhibitions".
Contemporary trends that emphasize figure start to appear gradually in
Turkey with the "1914 Generation". Figure, composition and nudity entered
the Turkish painting for the first time in the western sense with this
generation.
Inas Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi/School of Fine Arts for Girls was opened for
young ladies in 1914. Mihri Musfik Hanim, Omer Adil, Feyhaman Duran were
the first instructors.
A studio was built with army support in Sisli with Arseven's attempt in
1917. Lifij's "Progress" and "War Allegory", Calli's "Cannon Carrier",
Mehmet Ruhi's "Stone Breakers" were the first examples of multi figured
and large dimensional compositions realised prior to and following this
period. Right after the Sisli Studio, the Vienna Exhibition was held in
1918, the first exhibition abroad.
Young artists sent to Europe in 1926 came back inspired by contemporary
trends such as Fauvism, Cubism and even Expressionism still very influencial
in Europe, and they took a stand against the "1914 Generation" members.
The important goals of this new group were, though not very absolute, pictorial
design structure and linear foundation rather than impressionist colorism.The
activities of the group under the name of Independent Painters and Sculptors'
Association, expanded with the participation of new artists in 1929. The
association's founders were painters R.Fazil (Epikman) (1902-1974), Cevat
Hamit (Dereli) (1900-1989), Seref Kamil (Akdik) (1862-1941), Mahmut Fehmi
(Cuda) (1904-1987), Nurullah Cemal (Berk) (1906-1981), Hale Asaf (1905-1938),
Ali Avni (Celebi) (1904-1993), Ahmet Zeki (Kocamemi) (1900-1959), Muhittin
Sebati (1901-1935); sculptor Ratip Asir (Acudoglu) (1898-1957) and decorator
Fahrettin Arkunlar (1901-1971). The question of how the new styles that
Celebi and Kocamemi formed would fit into the realities of the country
had been answered by Turgut Zaim (1904-1974). Zaim had given an original
meaning to the structure of figure. The style the artist developed opposing
to the new and comprehensive content which artists brought, had become
a choice western trends.
While the Mustakiller/Independents opened the doors of contemporary trends
in Turkey, we see a newly founding group which would give a greater support
to these efforts and of which their effectiveness lasted until the 1950's:Group
D. These artists introduced some trends that had lasted in the West for
thirty, forty years. Group members were Zeki Faik Izer (1905-1988), Nurullah
Berk (1906-1981), Elif Naci (1898-1988), Cemal Tollu (1899-1968), Abidin
Dino (1913-1993) and sculptor Zuhtu Muridoglu (1906-1992). The most significant
distinction of Group D from the Independents was perhaps that they had
gathered around a certain aesthetics with solidarity in determination to
defend the new trends they wanted to bring in. Group D had not been representative
of any particular view. They were open to anything new except Impressionism.
The star of the Calli generation faded away gradually after the Independents
and Group D members had started to work at the Academy.Artists like Bedri
Rahmi Eyuboglu (1911-1975), Eren Eyuboglu (1913-1988), Halil Dikmen (1906-1964),
Esref Uren (1897-1984), Sabri Berkel (1907-1993), Hakki Anli (1906-1990),
Arif Kaptan (1906-1979), Salih Uralli (1908-1984) had later on joined Group
D.
Besides all this progress, from the beginning there had also been independent
artists. Among these Ilhan Demirci, Sefik Bursali, Leyla Gamsiz, Semsi
Arel, Maide Arel, Abidin Elderoglu, Hamit Gorele, Ziya Keseroglu, Seyfi
Toray can be counted. Cemal Bingol, Nejat Devrim, Eren Eyuboglu and Fureyya
Kilic were among those who worked figuratively. Later on Adnan Coker, Lutfu
Gunay, Selim Turan (1915-1994), Fahrunissa Zeid (1901-1991) and Adnan Turani
took place in this trend.
When we look at the formation that starts in the 1940's and materialized
in the 1950's in Turkish painting, rather than particular group's or trend's
individual styles come forward while the existence of some groups could
still be observed.
It can be said that during the 1940's the notion that first came forward
was originality, regionalism and nationalism.
Those who had a social realist understanding like Nuri Iyem, Turgut Atalay,
Avni Arbas, Selim Turan, Ferruh Basaga, Kemal Sonmezler, Mumtaz Yener,
Agop Arad, Hasmet Akal formed the Yeniler Grubu/New Group in the late 1930's.
After they had opened the "Harbour Paintings Exhibition" had been remembered
as the Harbour Painters.
"Group Ten" which was formed in 1947 by the students of Bedri Rahmi like
Mustafa Esirkus, Nedim Gunsur, Turan Erol, Fikret Otyam, Orhan Peker, Mehmet
Pesen, Adnan Varinca started working basically by adding folkloric ornaments
in their works and added a freshness to the art milieu.
We see the "Yeni Dal Grubu/New Branch Group" including artists like Ibrahim
Balaban, Avni Mehmetoglu, Ihsan and Kemal Incesu focusing on social reality
at 1959.
We see Siyah Kalem Grubu/Black Pen Group formed by artists such as Cemal
Bingol, Ismail Altinok, Selma Arel, Lutfu Gunay, Ihsan Cemal Karaburcak,
Asuman Kilic, Ayse Silay and Solmaz Tugac at 1961. The artists had no common
goal; what joined them together had been Cemal Bingol's studio.
From the 1960's on the Turkish painting which gained great mobility with
many artists with different styles is advancing towards a promising future.